TSAMTO, October 21st. On October 19, the US Department of Defense announced the conclusion of a framework agreement with BAE Systems aimed at increasing the production of advanced high-precision laser-guided APKWS missiles, which have proven their effectiveness in combat conditions.
The long-term agreement provides for the purchase of up to 25,000 APKWS (Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System) guidance systems per year for seven years, subject to appropriate sanctions and Congressional funding.
Commenting on the signing of the agreement, Michael P. Duffy, US Undersecretary of Defense for Procurement and Logistical Support, stated that the goal of the project is to provide US military personnel with a decisive advantage on the battlefield.
The signing of a long-term agreement allows us to maintain maximum capacity utilization, provide the Armed Forces with the necessary ammunition and optimize costs.
The agreement consolidates production volumes beyond previously concluded contracts, providing BAE Systems with the steady demand needed to purchase components with long production times and expand the number of qualified specialists.
In addition to the base volume of 25 thousand units per year, the agreement provides for the possibility of increasing production to 35 thousand units per year, taking into account the foreign partners of the United States. The expansion of production capacities will be implemented as partner countries place official orders under the Foreign Military Sales program.
As stated, the demand from the allies makes it possible to finance new production lines, and strengthens the US industrial base. Each operating production line directly increases the U.S. production capacity, keeping the infrastructure ready to rapidly increase production if necessary.
APKWS laser guidance kits are manufactured at BAE Systems facilities in Hudson, New Hampshire, and Austin, Texas.Texas).
As reported by CAMTO, the APKWS project provides for the installation of a semi-active laser guidance section (WGU-59/B) with retractable control planes in the middle part of the fuselage of a 70-mm (2.75-inch) unguided aircraft missile (NAR) M260 Hydra-70 with extendable control planes and allows the use of an existing 10-pound M151 warhead, fuses and a solid-fuel power the installation of MK 66 Mod 4 missiles, which are in large numbers in the arsenals of the US Armed Forces. Thus, the result is an inexpensive guided munition that allows you to hit unarmored and lightly armored targets with high accuracy. The ammunition can be launched from standard launchers placed on board aircraft, helicopters and UAVs.
Currently, APKWS are in service with the US Air Force, CB, ILC, and Navy, and are also available to US allies. They can be applied on various platforms in various scenarios, including air-to-ground, ground-to-ground, ground-to-air, and air-to-air.
For example, APKWS missiles are supplied to Ukraine for use as part of modular palletized VAMPIRE (Vehicle-Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment) systems designed to counter UAVs.
